Many private-run universities in Vietnam have received an unexpectedly small number of third-option university entrance applications despite a September 30 deadline.

Students going to school in southern Vietnam

As of September 27, Thanh Tay University had just 300 of its set enrollment target of 1,200 according to Vice Director Hoang Huu Nguyen in a recent interview with Dan Tri reporters.

“I do not hope to receive more registrations despite great efforts at promoting through mass media and even through leaflets. With the downtrend, we can not imagine how our university can operate in coming years,” he added.

Nguyen noted that "The Ministry of Education and Training has made wrong forecasts on the number of candidates who passed this year’s university entrance exams, therefore, it has announced the floor marks higher than the reality. The ministry has allowed many state-run universities to open extra-budgetary training divisions, which has also pushed us into difficul times.”

Chu Van An University is in the same situation as Thanh Tay. Thus far, they’ve received only about 500 third-choice applications before the September 29 target of 1,400.

Head of the Chu Van An Training Department, Nguyen Van Duy said, “If the situation is not improved, we will have to halt operations. Some faculty, particularly foreign language studies, only have been able to recruit from one to two students. At this time last year, up to 700 pupils registered to study at our university.”

At Luong The Vinh University on the afternoon of September 27, a mere 300 dossiers were sent for the third option, raising its total number of applications to 800 among the set goal of 1,600.

Nguyen Trai University is better off with over 100 registrations out of the target of 240 for the third choice.

Dong Do University has filled up just 30% of its third-choice target, said Head of the Training Department, Nguyen Thanh Tinh, expecting just half of the aimed figure to be fulfilled by September 30.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, 118 universities and colleges have received third-option entrance applications.